Folding sectional table



Aug. 25, 1959 Filed June 2, 1958 A. J. F IHE FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Aug. 25, 1959 A. J. FIHE FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE Filed June 2. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Aug. 25, 1959 A. J. FlHE FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1958 United States Patent 2,901,304 FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE Albert J. Fihe, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Application June 2, 1958, Serial No. 739,219

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-92) This invention relates to an improved folding all-purpose table and comprises an improvement over my earlier invention entitled Folding Game Table, for which I filed an application for US. Letters Patent on October 28, 1957, Serial No. 692,804.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a folding table which is particularly adapted for use in playing the game of table tennis and which has two top portions which are hinged together at their medial line of juncture and wherein the folding operation is considerably different from that of my earlier construction.

This latest embodiment includes several additional features, one of the important of which resides in the provision of a structure which, when extended for play, will not accidentally collapse it sat upon, either along the sides or at the extreme ends. This feature is also important in that the table of this invention is Often used for serving meals, and resultant damage from accidental folding or collapsing when the table is loaded with food and dishes is obviously something to be avoided.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a table which can be used for some other purpose as, for example, the serving of food, or for vari ous kinds of work which require a comparatively large area, such as in tailor shops or the like. The table can also be used by enthusiasts or hobbyists engaged in model railroading. Another use is for supporting drawings, maps or the like in geographical, geophysical or other scientific endeavors.

Another and further important object of the invention is to provide a folding all-purpose table which is provided with casters, whereby it can be readily moved from place to place when in folded condition and which casters are of such a construction and so positioned relative to each other and to the table that accidental side-wise or end wise movement of the table, when in extended position, is avoided.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a table, the top of which is composed of a combination of two sheets of plasticized board or the like, spaced apart by peripheral and intermediate wooden frame members, the remainder of the inner space being filled with a plasticized paper formed in a multiplicity of honeycomb cells, whereby great strength in one dimension is combined with non-warping features and a considerable saving in weight.

Other objects reside in the incorporation of metal or other reinforcing and protective strips at the edges of the table, thereby protecting vulnerable parts against accidental chipping, splitting or other damage.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the improved all-purpose folding table of this invention, parts being broken away to show the interior. construction of the top portions.

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Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table of Figure 1, illustrating the same in extended position.

Figure 3 is a view taken from underneath the table along the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the table in partially folded position.

Figure 5 shows the table in fully folded position.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 2, illustrating further details.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the core portion of one of the table tops before the outer layers are applied.

Figure 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the impregnated paper honeycomb filler employed in the construction of the tops.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, showing the novel construction of the adjustable, pivoted net support which forms an important part of the construction of the all-purpose folding table of this invention.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the table similar to the showing of Figure 1, but illustrating a slight modification.

Figure 14 is an enlarged section on the line 14-14 of Figure 13, illustrating the modification in detail.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numerals 15 and 16 indicate generally the two top portions of the improved folding all-purpose table of this invention. The tops are hingedly connected by three hinges 17, 18 and 19, the hinge 18 being centrally of the table and the other two at the outer edges.

By referring to Figure 12, it will be noted that the hinge pin 20 of the hinge 17 is considerably elongated and is provided with an upright 21 which is Welded or otherwise afiixed to the outer end of the hinge pin 20. There are two of these uprights, one in the hinge 17 and the other in the hinge 19, as best shown in Figure 6, and a net 22, such as that used in playing the game of table tennis, is mounted on these uprights, the same being preferably constructed with loops 23 at its outer ends so that it can be readily slid down over the uprights and as readily removed when desired or necessary. The hinge pins 20 are frictionally slidable in the hinge elements 1'? and 19 so that an outward pull thereon will serve to properly maintain the net in desired playing position and always at the proper tension. Furthermore, the uprights 21 can always be maintained in desired vertical position. Even if accidentally struck during play, they can. be immediate ly righted, and it will be obvious that the use of these hinged net supports eliminates the necessity of the employment of clamping brackets which, in addition to al ways marring the appearance of the table, were ditiicult to install and remove, could not be easily adjusted, and if struck during play, would often damage the clothing or person of the player. This particular phase of the invention is included in my earlier application for patent, as above identified.

Referring now to the construction of the top portions, it will be noted that each comprises two layers of some plasticized composite wood material, as best shown at 24 and 25 in Figures 10 and 14. There are several types and grades of this material on the market, practically all of which are suitable for the purpose, and even plywood can be used. 1

These two layers are joined by gluing or the like to an outer frame 26 (Figure 9) which is composed of kilndried lumber so as to guard against undesirable warping.

This frame is of suitable width and thickness so asto insure a top of sufficient strength to meet all requirements;

-of a honeycomb construction shown in more detail in Figure 11. This paper is usually impregnated with any one of a number of resins, such as epoxy resin, and the edges of the honeycomb material 28 are then suitably bonded to the inner faces of the hardboard sheets 24 and 25 by some suitable adhesive which may be a water-proof glue, an epoxy resin or some other suitable material.

This same adhesive is used to bind the outer faces of the wooden core to the inner surfaces of the hard board sheets 24 and 25, and the inner faces of the hardboard sheets are preferably roughened, corrugated or constructed of a screen pattern so as to provide a better bond over every portion of the area, even the linear edges of the honeycomb paper 28, 29 and 30. This produces a better and more accurate bounce for the ball when the table is used for game purposes with no possibility of dead spots. All requirements of tournament play for the game of table tennis are accordingly met. Bonding can be by heat and pressure.

The two hinged top portions are supported at the proper height above the floor or ground by means of a novel framework which allows of a ready folding action With all the parts properly in balance, whereby there is no danger of accidental overturning or collapse when the folded table is moved about on its supporting casters or rollers.

These rollers are indicated by the reference numerals 32 and 34, and it will be noted that the two rollers 32 are fixed to the rectangular supporting frame 36 by means of welding or the like so that they are always in parallelism.

The rollers 34 are mounted on ball bearing swivels 38, whereby a 360 rotation is allowed. In this way, the folded table can be easily pushed, guided and maneuvered as desired so that it can be stored in a relatively small space when not in use. The rollers or casters 32 and 34 are preferably of some material which will not mark polished floors and the purpose of the fixed rollers 32 is to prevent accidental endwise movement of the table if it is inadvertently pushed from one end or the other.

The central frame 36 is rectangular, as best shown in Figure l, and is preferably composed of angle iron welded at the corners.

An inverted U-shaped frame member 40, preferably composed of steel tubing of proper dimensions and strength, is welded or otherwise affixed at each end of the frame 36, and this is of such a height that when the table is moved to extended position, the two juxtaposed, hinged ends will rest upon the top of these two frame members 40, thereby providing adequate support at this point.

U-shaped links 42 connect the lower ends of each of the elements 40 to the under-faces of each of the top portions 15 and 16, these connections being made by means of pins or rivets 44 at the lower ends and by means of U-shaped clamps 46 at the points underneath the table tops. Screws pass through openings in the U-shaped clamps into the wooden frame members 27.

What is termed an equalizer bar 50, pivotally connects the upper end of each of the U-shaped elements 40 to the undersurface of the top 16 (Figures 4 and This is an important feature of the invention, because it maintains the two top portions and the frame elements 40 and 42 in desired requisite relationship at all stages of the folding and unfolding operations. Without this bar, serious imbalance would result. The horizontal portion of this bar is likewise connected to the underface of the table top 16 by means of suitable U-shaped clamps 46. a

An outer supporting leg is provided adjacent each end of the table, such legs comprising U-shaped tubular elements 60 and 62, having plastic or rubber glides or supports 64 mounted in their open ends so as to prevent damage to any supporting surface. Each leg is pivotally connected adjacent its upper end to the underface of the respective table top by means of a U-shaped link 66. These links correspond in shape to the shape of the legs, as best shown in Figure 8, and the pivotal connections at 68 enable the upper end of each leg 62 to move in a pair of slides 70 (Figure 4), whereby each leg can move from a completely folded position, such as that shown in Figure 5, to a completely extended and table supporting position, such as that shown in Figure 2. An intermediate point in the folding or unfolding operation is illustrated in Figure 4.

Two helical springs 72 are connected to the legs 60 and 62 at intermediate points 73 and the other ends of the springs are connected by brackets 74 to the underface of the table tops. The connections 73 and 74 are such that a spring toggle action results on the legs 60 and 62, Working in either direction, depending upon whether the leg is being folded or unfolded. This provides for greater ease of operation and desired stability. Cross braces 76 are provided for the U-shaped legs 60 and 62, but there are no cross braces in the elements 42 or in the equalizer 50, because such cross braces would interfere with the leg folding operation. Besides, the pivoted connections between the links 42 and 50 and the uprights serve as suitable bracing and stabilizing means.

It will be noted that in the table of Figure 1, a metal 7 reinforcement 80 is fastened to the outer ends 'and part of the edges of the table tops 15 and 16, this being preferably of steel so as to afford protection against undesirable chipping or marring of the table top whether used for sports or in a utilitarian manner.

In Figures 13 and 14, the steel strip is replaced by a strip of aluminum or plastic 82 which extends completely around the table edges, making for a more ornamental appearance. This strip can be held in position by an adhesive in the case of plastic or by screws 84 in the case of aluminum.

Referring to Figure 12, it will noted that the upright 21 is provided adjacent its top with an opening 85 through which some fastening means can be passed to permanently hold the net 22 in desired position and at a proper height above the table. This is used only when the table is used for game purposes; as otherwise the net is ordinarily simply slipped off the uprights 21 which are then turned down out of the way, enabling the table to be used for other purposes.

It will be evident that herein is provided a foldable all-purpose table which can be used for serving meals, for various kinds of work, particularly work which requires a relatively large supporting area, for a hobby such as model railroading, for games such as table tennis, and which can be readily folded and rolled out of the way when not in actual use. brackets for the net are adjustable, retractable and ro-' tatable makes the table immediately available for purposes other than the game of table tennis and also provides an additional folding operation to readily dispose of the net itself when the table is shifted into the position shown in Figure 5. The portability or mobility comprises an additional advantage.

Furthermore, the framework is so designed that a balanced structure always results, there can be no accidental collapse or inadvertent folding, even if an excess weight is placed on the table edges or ends, and the toggle springs provide a proper positioning of the end legs under all conditions.

I claim as my invention:

A folding all-purpose table comprising two table tops,

The fact that the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Arnt Mar. 16, 1909 Birdsall June 3, 1913 1 6 S'wett May 16, 1933 Thompson July 14, 1953 Wilson Oct. 25, 1955 Nelson Sept. 25, 1956 Read Dec. 4, 1956 Anderson May 14, 1957 Wolters May 21, 1957 James Oct. 29, 1957 Brewster et a1. July 29, 1958 

